Brassiere



S. MAIORANA May 18, 1948.

BRASSIERE Filed Sept. 5,

,JNVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS The provision of the bias cut elastic back portion I6 results in a number of considerable advantages. The high underarm control at the underarm side seams I9 serves to keep the breasts in proper position Within the cups I I without undue pressure or distortion. There is no undesirable pressure at the point of attachment of the shoulder strap 25 to the elastic back portion I6. Firm anchorage of the shoulder strap 25 is effected while eliminating any possibility of cutting or pinching across the shoulder or slipping off the shoulder, as a result of the yieldable bias pull when the arms are raised and lowered. Perfect freedom is assured, regardless of any motion of the arms or torso.

The centrally disposed vertical seam I8 across the centrally depending section 22 of back portion I6 eliminates the use of the conventional hook fastener and creates an aesthetically pleasing, smooth, unbroken contour across the back of the wearer. This 'latter arrangement also eliminates the possibility of accidental unfastening.

The centrally depressed or depending section 22 adapts the back portion 85 of the brassiere to be set low on the back so as not to be visible under a low-backed gown. The anchoring means 26 secured to the lower edge 2 of said depending section adapts the back portion It to be fastened to a girdle or similar garment'for a greater degree of uplifting support to the breasts and effective- 1y eliminates riding up the back portion I6. Even when worn unfastened to a girdle the brassire is designed and constructed to set lower across the back of the wearer than brassires of conventional design and will still give firm uplifting support to the breasts. In addition the back portion I 6 will not be visible above the edge of a Slip as is usually the case with conventionally designed brassieres.

The bottom edges 2i and 2a of the bias-cut elastic back portion I6 do not cause any pressure or pinching of the midriff as a result of the yield able bias pull and overcome the so-called roll around the waist, contributing toward a smooth fit and appearance. The width of the elastic back portion It, starting from the underarm side seams I9 and extending across the back of the wearer, serves to smooth out surplus flesh, thereby further adding to comfort and general good appearance.

Another commonly observed defect in conventional brassires is a wrinkling or sagging effect in the front of the brassiere below the breast cups which is largely caused by the riding up of the back portion of the brassiere due to the combined effect of the weight of the breasts and the continual body movement of the wearer-in walking, bending, etc. While this undesirable effect is substantially overcome in my improved brassire in a majority of cases b reason of the design and structural features previously described, it may be desired where the brassiere is to be appliedto a person having a full bosom to further neutralize this effect. For this purpose the cups I I of the brassire may be provided with reinforcement sections 21 of a suitable material. As illustrated in Fig. 3, the reinforcement sec- 4 tions 21 have a pair of lateral edges, a bottom edge and a concave top edge 28 and may conveniently be secured to the inside of cup I I along underarm side seam I9, bottom strip I3 and central seam I2, leaving free the concave top edge 28 to afford the necessary amount of fiexibility and freedom of motion consistent with the comfort of the wearer. The reinforcement sections 2 not onlyserve thepurp seof giving added strength to the'front of .the brassiere and preventing sagging and wrinkling of the brassire at the bottom of the cups II, but in addition result in greater support for the breasts and is a highly desirable feature of my improved brassiere in its application to larger bosoms.

Since certain modifications may be made in the brassiere of myinvention without departin from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and illustrated in the accompanying drawing be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A brassire comprising a front portion having breast receiving cups extending laterally to approximately the armpits of the wearer, a back portion of bias-cut elastic material comprising two side sections arranged symmetrically about a Vertical, centrally disposed seam and extending generally downwardly across the back of the wearer from the terminal underarm edges of said front portion, said side sections being shaped to define a centrally depending section extending downwardly to approximately the waist of the wearer and having-a depressed upper edge, a pair of inelastic shoulder straps inter-connecting each cup with said back portion and a plurality of fastening means secured to the lower edge of said depending section for anchoring said back portion to a girdle or similar garment. I

2. A brassiere comprising a front portion having breast receiving cupsand terminating in lateral edges at approximately'the armpits of the wearer, a back portion of bias-cut elastic material having a centrally depending section extending downwardly to approximately the waist of the wearer and provided with a depressed upper edge, a pair of shoulder straps interconnectmg each cup with said back portion, each cup having a lower, inner reinforcement section to preventwrinkling and sagging at the front portion of the brassiere, eachreinforcement section having a free concave upper edge and a plurality of fastening means secured to the lower edge of said depending section-foranchoring said back portion to a girdle or similar garment.

SANTA MAIORANA.

REFERENCES CITED The. following references are of record-in the file of this patent:

" UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

